单选题 In a democratic society citizens are encouraged to form their own opinions on candidates for public offices, taxes, constitutional amendments, environmental concerns, foreign policy, and other issues. The opinions held by any population are shaped and manipulated by several factors: individual circumstances, the mass media, special-interest groups, and opinion leaders.
Wealthy people tend to think differently on social issues from poor people. Factory workers probably do not share the same views as white-collar workers, non-union workers. Women employed outside their homes sometimes have perspectives different from those of full-time homemakers. In these and other ways individual status shapes one's view of current events.
The mass media, especially television, are powerful influences on the way people think and act. Government officials note how mail from the public tends to "{{U}}follow the headlines{{/U}}". Whatever is featured in newspapers and magazines and on television attracts enough attention that people begin to inform themselves and to express opinions.
The mass media have also created larger audiences for government and a wider range of public issues than existed before. Prior to television and the national editions of newspapers, issues and candidates tended to remain localized. In Great Britain and West Germany, for example, elections to the national legislatures were usually viewed by voters as local contests. Today's elections are seen as struggles between party leaders and programs. In the United States radio and television have been beneficial to the presidency. Since the days ot Franklin D. Roosevelt and his "fireside chats", presidents have appealed directly to a national audience over the heads of Congress to advocate their programs.
Special-interest groups spend vast sums annually trying to influence public opinion. Public utilities, for instance, tried to sway public opinion in favor of nuclear power plants. Opposed to them were citizens' organizations successful advertising campaign designed to prevent the passage of medicare.
Opinion leaders are usually such prominent public figures as politicians, some business personalities, and celebrity athletes. The opinions of these individuals, whether informed and intelligent or not, carry weight with some segments of the population. Some individuals, such as Nobel Prize winners, are suddenly thrust into public view by the media. By quickly reaching a large audience, their views gain a hearing and are perhaps influential in shaping views on complex issues.
单选题 How many factors could shape public opinion, as mentioned in the text?
  • A. 12.
  • B. 3.
  • C. 4.
  • D. 5.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】细节题。文章第一段最后一句列举了个人境遇、大众媒体、特殊利益团体和舆论领袖4个方面的因素，而后文则是每一段论述一个因素的影响，因此这一句也是全文的主旨句。
单选题 The second paragraph is mainly about ______.
  • A. the influence of gender on people's view
  • B. the influence of people's status on their view
  • C. the influence of living standard on people's view
  • D. the influence of different jobs on people's view
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】主旨题。本题为段落主旨题，参见上题分析。第一个因素是个人境遇，而这一段正是说明这一因素。而该段最后一句又直接总结了主旨：…individual status shapes one's view of current events，因此本题答案就是[B]。
单选题 The expression "follow the headlines"(in Para. 3) shows______.
  • A. people seldom have time to read newspaper articles
  • B. people think the headlines contain the most important information
  • C. people often get their opinions from newspapers or television
  • D. most people look on newspapers or TV as misleading
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】词义推测题。follow/grab the headlines是一个习惯搭配，指“跟随/成为媒体的热门话题”。而由这一短语所在句后一个补充说明的句子的意思可知，这里是指媒体为人们提供信息并且影响人们的观点，因此本题答案就是[C]。
单选题 Which of the following is true according to the passage?
  • A. TV programs have a strong influence on governmental policy.
  • B. Chats on televisions are chief means of running for presidency.
  • C. More and more people show interest in politics because of TV.
  • D. Before the use of TV, people showed little interest in politics.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】细节题。本题为细节比对题。四个选项涉及的都是电视这种媒体，因此答案信息应是对应于第四段。[A]中的governmental policy在该段中没有涉及．[B]曲解了该段最后一句的意思；[C]与该段第一句(主题句)的意思相符；[D]与该段第二、三句指出的事实不符。
单选题 It is obvious that the opinion of famous people______.
  • A. is often ignored by the public
  • B. its seldom expressed to the point
  • C. is often imposed on the public
  • D. has a strong influence on people
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】分析推理题。文章第一段首先指出舆论领导者是影响大众观点的一个因素，然后在最后一段分析了这种影响。由其中第二句中的carry weight with some segments of the population及最后一句(By quickly reaching a large audience...)即可推知[D]是正确的。